While the prospect is not an immediate one, Alan Pardew has held out the
possibility of Andy Carroll returning to Newcastle United on a permanent
basis after insisting that the club came close to signing their former
striker last summer.

Carroll will be part of the West Ham United squad that plays at St James’ Park
tomorrow after joining Sam Allardyce’s team on a season-long loan from
Liverpool in August. Having prised £35 million out of Anfield in January
last year for the England forward, Newcastle were rebuffed in their attempts
to rehire him on a temporary contract.